Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere: Difference between revisions
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Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere (edit)
Revision as of 12:39, 21 May 2019
, 5 years ago→Black fungi and black yeast relying on 70% night time humidity
Line 37:
In another experiment, by Kristina Zakharova et al., two species of microcolonial fungi – Cryomyces antarcticus and Knufia perforans - and a species of black yeasts–Exophiala jeanselmei were found to adapt and recover metabolic activity during exposure to a simulated Mars environment for 7 days. They depended on the temporary saturation of the atmosphere with water vapour like the lichens. The fungi didn't show any signs of stress reactions (such as creating unusual new proteins).
The three organisms they used were
* Cryomyces antarcticus, an extremophile fungi, one of several from Antarctic dry deserts.
* Knufia perforans, a fungi from hot arid environments
* Exophiala jeanselmei is a black yeast endolith closely related to human pathogens.
In this experiment, the temperature cycled between 21 °C and -50 and the relative humidity varied up to 70% at the lowest temperatures, with pressure 700 Pascals or about 0.69% of Earth sea level.
The experimenters concluded that these black fungi can survive in a Mars environment and that an unknown metabolic pathway may be responsible.<ref name="ZakharovaMarzban2014">{{cite journal|url=http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140529/srep05114/full/srep05114.html|last1=Zakharova|first1=Kristina|last2=Marzban|first2=Gorji|last3=de Vera|first3=Jean-Pierre|last4=Lorek|first4=Andreas|last5=Sterflinger|first5=Katja|title=Protein patterns of black fungi under simulated Mars-like conditions|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=4|pages=5114|year=2014|issn=2045-2322|doi=10.1038/srep05114|pmid=24870977|pmc=4037706|quote="The results achieved from our study led to the conclusion that black microcolonial fungi can survive in Mars environment."|bibcode=2014NatSR...4E5114Z}}
{{quote|The results achieved from our study led to the conclusion that black microcolonial fungi can survive in Mars environment.
...
We can conclude that an unknown metabolic pathway might be discovered, which enables the fungi to live in a quasi-anaerobic Mars-like environment.}}</ref>
==Locations of landers and rovers on Mars==
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